Orange County Día de los Muertos Events

Día de los Muertos is a cultural event for families to honor their loved ones who have passed before us. There are multiple Día de los Muertos events happening throughout Orange County where your family can create an ofrenda, enjoy live entertainment and delicious food while remembering friends and family members who have passed.

Noche de Altares
nochedealtares.org
4th and Birch
Santa Ana

Saturday,
November 4 2017

1:00pm – 10:00pm

Since 2002, El Centro Cultural de Mexico has been organizing Noche de Altares, or a Night of Altars, a community based Día de los Muertos celebration, where families, students, community organization and businesses come together to create an authentic cultural experience that reflects Mexican tradition and what makes up our communities today. Organized by volunteers, the purpose of the celebration is to honor the ancient traditions of the festival and bring community members together through art, culture, and compassion.

For one night, families, students, community organizations, activists, artists, and businesses are invited to build an altar in memory of a deceased loved one or to bring awareness to a social issue. By making altars, participants are inviting fellow community members into their own life and passions for a loved one. Over the years we have seen altars bring strangers together through mutual compassion, understanding and dialogue. Families reunite to remember and honor their loved ones.

In addition to viewing beautifully created altars, attendees will be entertained by cultural performances and live music. Children can get their face painted and participate in free, art workshops. Local artists will be selling their wares and local restaurants will be selling their most delicious dishes. Finally, attendees will have a photo opportunities with La Catrina, the modern-day icon of Día de los Muertos created by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada.

Location: Bowers Key Courtyard and Bowers Kidseum
Ticket Info: FREE festival. General admission to Bowers Museum and Kidseum is free on Festival Sundays for Members and Santa Ana residents only.

The Anaheim Marketplace
1440 S. Anaheim Blvd
Anaheim, CA

November 5th 12pm to 4pm

Dia de Los Muertos 4th Annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration. Families will be invited to place photos of their loved ones in a traditional Dia de los Muertos alter. Mariachi and folkloric dancers, arts & crafts, face painting, and much more will be available for kids and the entire family.

The Muckenthaler
1201 W Malvern Ave
Fullerton, CA 92833

Sunday, November 5, 2017
12:00pm 4:00pm

The Muckenthaler celebrates this special Mexican holiday with an afternoon filled with arts and crafts, altars, art workshops, food vendors and live music! The historical roots of this holiday date back to the pre-Hispanic cultures of Meso-America of the indigenous people, especially the Nahua (Aztecs, Mayans, and Toltecs) and others native to Mexico. Please join us as we gather together to enjoy regional dance groups and festive activities honoring Dia de los Muertos traditions.

Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that celebrates loved ones who have passed. At Pretend City, we are celebrating Dia De Los Muertos with vibrant, educational activities for little ones. Bring a photo of your loved one to add to our special Altar and partake in the celebration!

Time: Morning Activities: Sensational Storytime @ 11:30am

Afternoon Activities: Language Lessons @ 3:30pm

Art Studio Sessions: Tissue Paper Marigolds > Marigolds (the ‘flower of the dead’) are often sprinkled on Mexican graves, as their sweet smell is believed to draw the deceased back to earth for the ‘dia de los muertos’.

Smart Art: Sugar Skulls > Colorful skulls are a symbol of Dia de los Muertos. During this art activity in Orange Plaza, your child will learn the history behind the sugar skulls and create their very own using rainbow colored felt pieces.

Sensational Story time (11:30am): I Remember Abuelito > It’s time to remember loved ones who have passed on from this life. This story, written by Janice Levy, talks about the different traditions of this celebration and how we can honor our deceased loved ones. After the story, children will make their very own butterfly to take home.

Language Lessons (3:30pm): Spanish Lesson > Join us in Orange Plaza for a mini Spanish lesson led by our partners at Portal Languages.
Play Partner: Consulate of Mexico de Santa Ana, Portal Languages

Grown-up Tip: You don’t have to be Mexican to honor and celebrate the memory of departed loved ones on this special day. Visit this great LINK for more ideas for how to talk to your young children about death and dying.

Santa Ana’s Fairhaven Memorial Park is hosting a Dia de los Muertos celebration to remember friends and family members who have died. A bilingual service in Spanish and English will be officiated by Deacon Jerry de Santos and Deacon Louie Gallardo. There will be a traditional offertory, entertainment and complimentary refreshments. Attendees are encouraged to bring a photo of a loved one to place on the alter.

Don’t miss sharing the beautiful story about love, family and Día de los Muertos in the upcoming Disney*Pixar film COCO with your children in theaters on November 22nd.